Pakistan’s Influence in Washington
Pakistan’s surprising sway over U.S. policy during India’s Operation Sindoor (May 7–10) caught both New Delhi and Prime Minister Modi off guard. This brief but intense conflict with Pakistan came just months after Modi’s high-profile visit to Washington in February, which had seemed to cement strong ties with President Trump. Trade—Trump’s central agenda—was expected to conclude on a positive note for both nations.
However, the Indian retaliation to Pakistan in May disrupted final negotiations on a tariff-free trade deal. Unbeknownst to many in India, Pakistan had already been quietly cultivating influence within Trump’s inner circle since November of last year. With little to offer, Pakistan positioned itself as a potential supplier of artillery shells for Ukraine and a go-between with Iran, anticipating that Iran would be a key focus for Trump.
Pakistani lobbyists—most notably Trump’s former bodyguard Keith Schiller and advisor George Sorial—had been aggressively promoting Islamabad’s perspective. Despite growing unease in Washington over the murder of 26 tourists in Kashmir, Pakistan managed to manipulate the narrative by fabricating a radiation leak incident during the May fight. This disinformation gained traction, and the Trump administration, relying heavily on its lobbyists, began to accept the Pakistani version of events. India was blamed for the bombing of a nuclear facility, allowing Pakistan to shift the narrative decisively.
Media outlets, fed the Pakistani angle, began amplifying it—further isolating India. Whether Pakistan’s influence will endure, especially given its pro-China leanings, remains uncertain. But the diplomatic damage was done. India felt betrayed.
President Trump later claimed he pushed for a ceasefire by using trade as leverage—an assertion India has flatly denied. The truth may emerge in time, but the bitterness in India’s perception of that episode is likely to remain.
